Clinical features

The patient with a temporal bone fracture may complain of deafness that may be conductive or sensorineural in origin.

Facial nerve palsy may immediately follow injury, suggesting irreversible damage to the nerve, or it may have a delayed onset suggesting that spontaneous recovery will occur.

On examination, possible findings:

• Battle's sign - haematoma over the mastoid
• blood in the external ear
• CSF otorrhoea or if the drum is intact CSF may drain via the Eustachian tube and cause rhinorrhoea
• haemotympanum

Reference

1. Johnson F, Semaan MT, Megerian CA. Temporal bone fracture: evaluation and management in the modern era. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;41(3):597-618